Federal Grant Award Summary

Children's Hospital Los Angeles received $884,146 in Project Grant funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) to conduct clinical research on obesity management in pediatric populations. The award, dated June 5, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2031, funds a 24-month randomized controlled trial examining the early reintroduction of semaglutide (a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) following metabolic and bariatric surgery in youth ages 12-18 with Class III obesity. The study will evaluate whether adding semaglutide pharmacotherapy to standard lifestyle modification counseling within two weeks of bariatric surgery improves weight loss outcomes and reduces weight regain, compared to bariatric surgery alone.

This clinical research initiative directly addresses a significant evidence gap in pediatric obesity management, as current standard-of-care guidelines lack guidance on incorporating obesity pharmacotherapy post-surgery in youth. The trial involves 80 participants and employs intensive lifestyle modification counseling alongside the pharmacological intervention to capture comprehensive data on weight trajectories and metabolic outcomes over the 24-month study period. Research will be conducted at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, leveraging the institution's established pediatric metabolic and bariatric surgery program to generate evidence-based clinical guidance for managing severe obesity in the pediatric population.